Original scientific paper
Efficacy of Physical Therapy in the Intensive Care Unit in a One-Year Period
Iva Marincel Antolović
; Klinički bolnički centar Rijeka
Iva Mikolić
orcid.org/0009-0007-5561-5247
; Klinički bolnički centar Rijeka
Sonja Kamber
; Klinički bolnički centar Rijeka
Mia Hrlec
; Klinički bolnički centar Rijeka,
Abstract
Introduction: Early physical therapy in the intensive care unit (ICU) is crucial for minimizing complications of prolonged hospitalization and shortening the length of stay in the ICU. Therefore, physiotherapists at the Department of Anaesthesiology, Intensive Care and Pain Management at the Clinical Hospital Centre in Rijeka have been working in 12-hour shifts since February 1, 2022. This study aims to present the effectiveness of physiotherapy by comparing two periods – 8- and 12-hour shifts period; comparing the length of stay and the number of verticalized patients.Materials and methods: The study was conducted on a sample of 1326 patients hospitalizedin the ICU between February 1, 2021, and January 31, 2023 – 437were included in further analysis.Results: Average age of patients was 59 and 71.17% were male. The mostcommon main diagnosis on admission of the studied patients wasacute respiratory failure (16.02%), while the most concomitantdiseases were cardiovascular diseases (67.96%). There is no statistically significant difference in the duration of stay between thetwo compared periods, but the patients were weaned from invasivemechanical ventilation earlier (13.58%) and were verticalized morefrequently (13.58%) before discharge.Conclusion: Early physical therapy and respiratory rehabilitation are extremelyimportant because they shorten the duration of mechanical ventilation and length of stay in the ICU, minimizing complications ofprolonged hospitalization in the ICU. 12-hour shifts allow continuous work and monitoring of patients by physiotherapists, as well asrehabilitation adapted to the general condition and course of treatment.
Keywords
early rehabilitation; respiratorna fizioterapija; respiratory physiotherapy; verticalizacion
Hrčak ID:
313504
URI
Publication date:
22.1.2024.
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